dallied

verb

past tense of dally
1
as in played
to engage in activity for amusement he spent his college years dallying, seemingly determined to acquire as little knowledge as possible

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lingered
to move or act slowly don't dally on the way to the interview

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in flirted
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun she spent the summer dallying with a guy renting the neighboring beach house

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4
as in dawdled
to spend time doing nothing I kept dallying at my desk until I couldn't put off doing my work any longer

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dallied The full-backs, meanwhile, took their time from throw-ins, ensuring team-mates behind the ball were secure and Emiliano Martinez, who produced a second spellbinding save in as many visits to Nottingham, dallied from goal kicks. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dallied
  1. played
  2. lingered
  3. flirted
  4. dawdled
  5. toyed
  6. delayed
  7. lounged
  8. dragged
Verb
  • The bridge — which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario — was named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe who played for the Detroit Red Wings, symbolizing the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
  • Wallack’s critique was echoed by former Beach Commissioner Saul Gross, a real estate investor who has played a significant role in Art Deco district preservation and whose Streamline Properties is on Washington.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Definition of played
Verb
  • Events ranging from a baby parade in Flint, Michigan, to a rock concert in Herndon, Virginia, and the America’s Mile marathon in Pittsburgh were canceled Friday as smoke lingered.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • But concerns have lingered, especially after major wins on contracts involving US government policy or actions.
    — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026
Definition of lingered
Verb
  • The most recent season also revealed that Wilson flirted with Miller throughout the summer, raising her hopes for a possible reconciliation, only to hook up with her best friend months later.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 8 July 2026
  • The stock's trading just under $200, a level it's flirted with since late last month, down 17% from its May record and up just 4% on the year, as investors have turned their attention to other AI components, like the memory-makers.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of flirted
Verb
  • But, lucky for anyone who dawdled, many of the deals are still active.
    — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 June 2026
  • Flight attendants turned into drill sergeants, barking at passengers who flouted mask rules or dawdled too long eating that snack with the mask off.
    — Thomas Black, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2025
Definition of dawdled
Verb
  • The pair even toyed around with the idea of a potential collaboration.
    — Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
  • Four years later — after the Broncos had toyed unsuccessfully with finding his replacement — Morton teamed with a new coach, his former Cowboys teammate Dan Reeves.
    — Pat Graham, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026
Definition of toyed
Verb
  • Eckert was interviewed again earlier this month after the process was initially delayed, with Southampton’s head coach back in Germany and recently becoming a father.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Gen Alphas seem to know almost immediately when something is fake, overproduced, delayed or culturally disconnected, which is why the strongest content right now often feels chaotic.
    — Kelly Samuel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of delayed
Verb
  • In the center, a cluster of tortellini lounged in a pool of truffle-flecked butter sauce.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • In the living room, a tabby cat with a clipped ear lounged on a velvet couch, her front paws propping open an illustrated catalogue of military aircraft.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of lounged
Verb
  • Scardovari, Italy — As the sun was rising, two fisherwomen dragged their boat through the Scardovari lagoon in northeastern Italy.
    — Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • The animation is often rudimentary, particularly in outer-space scenes that are effectively a cut-out of a starship being dragged across a stellar background.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of dragged

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Cite this Entry

“Dallied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dallied. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dallied for Spanish Speakers

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